Press
Release

Dutch Postcode Lottery extends partnership with the Marine Stewardship Council

The Dutch Postcode Lottery has extended its funding support to the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) with a €2.5 million grant over the next five years, effective from January 2016. The Dutch Postcode Lottery is the Netherlands’ largest charity lottery, supporting more than 90 organisations working in the fields of nature and the environment, development cooperation, human rights and social cohesion.

Supporting critical work to protect our oceans for the future

"The MSC is overwhelmed at the generosity of this renewal grant from the Dutch Postcode Lottery. This funding will enable the MSC to accelerate critical work to secure healthy and productive oceans for the future," said MSC’s CEO Rupert Howes.

"The Dutch Postcode Lottery’s continued support reaffirms the importance of the MSC’s work with leaders in the seafood industry and conservation community to tackle overfishing and to enable consumers to have access to sustainable seafood choices. Over the coming years these funds will underpin vital work to increase access to the MSC programme, particularly for fisheries in the developing world, and to build consumer awareness and support for MSC certified seafood to ensure seafood supplies are safeguarded for generations to come.

"MSC would like to thank the players of the Dutch Postcode Lottery for enabling us to continue this work," Mr Howes added.

Funds from the lottery will continue to support the MSC’s efforts in rewarding and incentivizing sustainable fishing. Today, more than 250 fisheries are MSC certified in 36 countries. MSC certified seafood account for close to 10% of the total global wild-caught seafood.

Partners since 2011

Since 2011, the MSC has annually received €500,000 from the Lottery. This year the partnership was evaluated and in October the Lottery’s Supervisory Board decided to continue the funding support.

Margriet Schreuder, head of charities at the Dutch Postcode Lottery noted that"consumers can easily identify and buy sustainably caught fish, thanks to the distinctive blue MSC ecolabel. The Postcode Lottery believes it is important that future generations can enjoy an abundance of fish and oceans full of life. We are pleased to be able to continue supporting the work of the MSC thanks to the contribution of the 2.5 million people playing the lottery"